World Cup 1990, last 16
Ireland won 5–4 on penalties, after extra time.
Monday 25 June 1990, 17:00 local time. Stadio Luigi Ferraris, Genoa. Crowd 31818. Referee José Roberto Wright (Brazil). Manager Jack Charlton.
This was Ireland’s first World Cup. Beating Romania put them into the quarter-finals at the first attempt, and they got there without winning a game in 90 minutes: three group draws, two goals, then this 0–0. The game extended their unbeaten run to 17 matches, then a record.
Watch FIFA’s highlightsBonner’s save and O’Leary’s kick, RTÉ
The shoot-out, kick by kick
| Kick | Taker | Result | Ire–Rom |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gheorghe HagiRomania | Scored | 0–1 |
| 2 | Kevin SheedyIreland | Scored | 1–1 |
| 3 | Dănuț LupuRomania | Scored | 1–2 |
| 4 | Ray HoughtonIreland | Scored | 2–2 |
| 5 | Iosif RotariuRomania | Scored | 2–3 |
| 6 | Andy TownsendIreland | Scored | 3–3 |
| 7 | Ioan LupescuRomania | Scored | 3–4 |
| 8 | Tony CascarinoIreland | Scored | 4–4 |
| 9 | Daniel TimofteRomania | Saved by Bonner | 4–4 |
| 10 | David O’LearyIreland | Scored | 5–4 |
Romania kicked first. FIFA’s full shoot-out is on FIFA+, which now opens on DAZN.
Daniel Timofte
Romania’s midfielder came on after 98 minutes, in place of Ioan Sabău, and took their fifth kick with the shoot-out level at 4–4. Packie Bonner saved it, the only kick of the ten that did not go in.
David O’Leary
The Arsenal defender did not get on the pitch in the group games. He replaced Steve Staunton after 94 minutes and, by his own account, took number five because it was the last number left. His kick sent Ireland through. As RTÉ’s George Hamilton put it, “The nation holds its breath.”
Line-ups
Ireland
Packie Bonner; Chris Morris, Mick McCarthy (captain), Paul McGrath, Kevin Moran, Steve Staunton; Ray Houghton, Andy Townsend, Kevin Sheedy; John Aldridge, Niall Quinn.
Substitutes used: Tony Cascarino for Aldridge (22′), David O’Leary for Staunton (94′). Booked: Aldridge, McGrath.
Romania
Silviu Lung (captain); Gheorghe Popescu, Ioan Andone, Ioan Lupescu; Mircea Rednic, Ioan Sabău, Gheorghe Hagi, Iosif Rotariu, Michael Klein; Gavril Balint, Florin Răducioiu.
Substitutes used: Dănuț Lupu for Răducioiu (74′), Daniel Timofte for Sabău (98′). Booked: Hagi, Lupu.
Ireland’s Italia ’90
| Date | Game |
|---|---|
| 11 Jun 1990Group | Ireland 1–1 EnglandCagliari. Kevin Sheedy 73′ |
| 17 Jun 1990Group | Ireland 0–0 EgyptPalermo. No goals |
| 21 Jun 1990Group | Ireland 1–1 NetherlandsPalermo. Niall Quinn 71′ |
| 25 Jun 1990Last 16 | Ireland 0–0 Romania (5–4 on penalties)Genoa. No goals |
| 30 Jun 1990Quarter-final | Italy 1–0 IrelandRome. Salvatore Schillaci for Italy |
The quarter-final against Italy was in Rome on 30 June. Every game against Romania · All results